Officials give green light to moratorium on club sports

September 11, 2007

Any athletic group that wants to be designated a club sport by the Aberdeen school district will have to wait until spring 2010 to be considered. The school board voted 6-0 on Monday in favor of the moratorium recommended by Gene Brownell, the district's athletic director. A club sport is one the district does not sponsor or support financially, but one whose athletes can be awarded the Central High School letter. Swimming is a club sport in Aberdeen. Soccer was, but is no longer because the district now sponsors it at the high school level. Brownell said talk of making bowling a club sport in Aberdeen triggered him to think about recommending a moratorium, he said. Also, the South Dakota High School Activities Association is exploring the possibility of sanctioning more sports, which is another reason to call a moratorium locally, he said. Swimming will remain a club sport in Aberdeen under the moratorium approved Monday night. Board members Duane Alm, Linda Burdette, Mike Miller, Brad Olson, Brian Sharp and Scott Wirth voted yes. Member Bob Nikolas was absent. The district has had a club sports policy for 10 years. Reporter Russ Keen; (605) 622-2317 or 1-800-925-4100 ext. 317; rkeen@aberdeennews.com